by Lanky Levy

Created on: September 18, 2008

What would happen to the "little" man if all the banks failed?

How scary is the thought that you would have no money, no house, no savings, no future.

The thought that entered into my mind during this difficult time in the economy, is what would the bankers do if they didn't have us?

We are the people that keep the banks afloat, and we are the reason that they become greedier and less accommodating, because we don't flex our muscles and say, "enough is enough".

How many times have you encountered a problem, and gone to the bank with whom you have banked for years, but been refused a loan because your credit score has suffered, you don't have enough equity, you don't have any money (duh, that's why you went to them in the first place!)

If you have money, they will give you more. If you need money urgently, they will turn you down. They don't lose!

But come-uppance has reared its head, and banks are now feeling vulnerable. The little man is replacing the bank with internet alternative banking methods, moving money offshore and into investments. Today there is nothing that you can't do on the internet and the brick and mortar companies are suffering.

It is up to each one of us to diversify our finances. If you find yourself struggling now, it is time to make a plan. A life plan. Start off with baby steps and set up four streams of income.

1. If you are on a job, continue with that job until you have enough income coming in. A regular income is imperative.

2. Use the Internet and find a niche market in which you are interested, research how you can sell it, to whom, at what cost, how to market it. You could write a book on something you are good at. Or you could become an affiliate marketer in the niche that you found, and sell ready-made products and get a commission.

3. Take a few courses in investing in stocks and bonds. These are cyclical products, that go up and down and can sometimes stop your heart in their wins and losses. But I like the new ETF funds (Electronic Traded Funds), which you can buy 1 share at a time for very little money, and build up a portfolio over time in a long term investment. You can trade on-line through companies like T.D. Ameritrade, or Charles Schwab.

4. Property is a great investment. You could start learning about apartment buying, or flipping properties, or investing in places like storage units or mobile homes or billboards.

Take charge of your life now....Be brave.

Lanky is the author of "Notes from the Gurus" and "Sudden Spouse Death", "How to export to the USA", and is an affiliate marketer and property investor. See her blog at Complete Internet Marketing http://www.complete-internet-marketing.html and Mrs. Levy's famous..... sayings, thoughts, opinions and sometimes expert advice http://baobabgifts.blogspot.com

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